Juan Ramón de la Fuente

Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez (born 5 September 1951) is a Mexican psychiatrist, academician and politician who has served as the secretary of foreign affairs from 2024 until his resignation in 2026 during the presidency of Claudia Sheinbaum. He previously served as secretary of health in the cabinet of President Ernesto Zedillo (1994–1999) and as rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) from 1999 to 2007. He is a professor emeritus of Psychiatry at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and chairs the foard of the Aspen Institute Mexico. From 18 February 2019 to 13 September 2023 he served as the permanent representative of Mexico to the United Nations.

Education Born in Mexico City in 1951, de la Fuente graduated from the School of Medicine of the National Autonomous University in 1976 and trained in psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, United States. When he returned to Mexico he founded the Clinical Research Unit of the Mexican Institute of Psychiatry and joined the Faculty of UNAM's School of Medicine, where he was appointed dean in 1991. In 1995 he was also elected president of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and a few years later he was appointed secretary of health by President Zedillo. In 1999, he resigned his cabinet post to be appointed rector of the UNAM and in 2003 he was reappointed for a second term. In 2008 he was elected president of the International Association of Universities at UNESCO and was called by Ban Ki-moon to be member of the Council of the United Nations University in Tokyo. He sits on several boards in Mexico and abroad, such as El Universal, an influential newspaper in Mexico City. Also, in 2008 he was elected president of the International Association of Universities.

Career

De la Fuente began his career as Secretary of Health under President Ernesto Zedillo from 1994 to 1999. During his tenure, he contributed significantly to Mexico's public health initiatives, particularly in addressing addiction and mental health challenges. He succeeded Jesús Kumate Rodríguez and was followed by José Antonio González Fernández.

From 1999 to 2007, de la Fuente served as the Rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), one of Latin America's most prestigious universities. During his leadership, he focused on educational reforms and expanding the university's global presence.

In 2018, he was appointed Mexico's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position he held until 2023 under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In this role, he succeeded Juan José Ignacio Gómez Camacho and was later succeeded by Alicia Buenrostro Massieu.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2024–Present)

In 2024, de la Fuente was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Claudia Sheinbaum, taking office on 1 October 2024, following the tenure of Alicia Bárcena Ibarra. He was confirmed by the Senate on 9 October 2024.

Awards and recognition

He has written over two hundred papers and fourteen books, and has received numerous awards and honorary degrees such as the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Mayo Clinic, the Presidential Award for Excellence of the University of Texas and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Arizona State University, amongst many others. In 2006 he received from President Vicente Fox the National Prize for Arts and Sciences, the highest scientific recognition of Mexico's Government.